Foldable bed frame



Sept. 15, 1953 J. PlLIERo FOLDABLE BED FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 16, 1951 Sept. 15 1953 J. PILU-:Ro 29351787 FOLDABLE BED FRAMEFiled March 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6'@ 73 4,3 @-5 f5/w65FIL/0 Sept. 15, 1953 J. PILU-:Ro

FOLDABLE BED FRAME Filed March 16,'1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TOR.AVES 14:1?0 BY ma off/a/QA/E/{S' Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATESATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE BED FRAME James Piliero, Astoria, N. Y., assignerto The Englander Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware6 Claims.

This invention relates to a fol-dable bed frame which is constructed andarranged to take up a minimum amount of space when the same is collapsedfor convenience in storage.

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable bed frame which isfoldable from bed forming relation to collapsed lowered condition withoppositely disposed end sections of the frame arranged in upwardlyprojecting relation.

The invention comprehends a foldable bed frame of said character whichincludes similar end sections and a collapsible intermediate sectionhingedly connected with the end sections for movement from aligned bedforming relation to collapsed condition to dispose the end sections inupwardly projecting relation and the intermediate section in loweredrelation to reduce the height of the collapsed bed frame for conveniencein storage. Thus the height of the intermediate section when in loweredrelation is independent of the height of the bed frame when in bedforming relation.

Still another object of the invention is to promediate section issupported on pivotally connected crossed legs which are linked to theend sections for effecting collapsing movement of the crossed legs andlowering of the intermediate section with the movement of the endsections to upwardly projecting relation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable bed framehaving supporting members adapted to nati-y engage the supportingsurface when in bed forming relation so as to prevent undue shiftingthereof and which is also provided with rollable members adapted toengage the supporting surface when the bed frame is in collapsedrelation to permit of convenient rolling movement of the bed frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for supportingone of the end sections in inclined relation when the foldable bed frameis disposed in bed forming condition.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a foldable bed frame constructed in accordancewith the invention and illustrating the same in bed forming relation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side' view thereof with the same shown in partiallycollapsed relation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the bed frame in fully collapsedcondition.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takenapproximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken approximately online 6-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the :bed frame.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the ioldable bedframe consists of similar oppositely disposed end sections Ill and I I,an intermediate section I2 located between the end sections and a pairof pivotally connected crossed legs I3 and I4 arranged beneath theintermediate section at each side. The crossed legs I3 and Ul supportthe intermediate section in alignment with the end sections when thesections are disposed in bed forming relation and are linked with theend sections in such a manner as to collapse the crossed legs tosubstantially flattened condition with the movement of the end sectionsto upwardly projecting relation to thereby dispose the intermediatesection in lowered position for reducing the over-all height of the bedframe when in collapsed condition. Thus the bed frame is reduced inheight for convenience in storage and shipment when in collapsedcondition without affecting the height of the frame when in bed formingrelation.

The end sections [0 and I I each comprise oppositely disposed parallelside rails I 6 and I 'I andan end rail I8 which may be integrallyconnected with the side rails. The said rails are of angle ironconstruction and are arranged with the horizontal flanges I9 disposeduppermost and the vertical flanges 20 disposed outwardly. Each of theend sections is provided with a head 2l consisting of an invertedlJ-shaped member which is secured at its ends to the vertical iiange ofthe end rail I8 thereof to project thereabove. Each of the end sectionsis also provided with leg members 23 which are of angle ironconstruction and are pivotally connected on pivot pins 2t to the innerfaces o-f the vertical flanges 2t of the side rails I6 and Il adjacentthe outer ends thereof. The legs 23 are formed with inwardly bowed lowerends 25 which are join-ed by a cross member 26 to provide a firm supportof U-shaped formation for each of the sections.

The intermediate section I2 includes oppositely disposed parallel siderailsl 28 and 29 which are of angle iron construction and arranged withthe horizontal flanges 30 thereof disposed uppermost and the Verticalflanges 3'I arranged' outwardly. The vertical flanges 3l of said siderails 28 and 29 project beyond the ends of the horizontal flanges 30thereof into overlying relation with the inner ends of the verticalflanges 2li of the side rails of the end sections and are pivotallyconnected therewith on pivot pins 32 to permit of swinging movement ofthe end sections from horizontal alignment with the intermediate sectionto upwardly projecting relation therewith. The side rails of theintermediate section are formed with longitudinally extending slots 33and 34 in the vertical flanges 3I thereof adjacent their opposite endsrespectively through which extend pivot pins 35 and 36 which pivotallyconnect the upper ends of the crossed legs I3 and I4 with link members31 and 38, the said link members being pivotally connected at theirouter ends to the vertical flanges 2U of the side rails I6 and I1 of theend sections on pivot pins 39 and 40. Thus, one of the pairs of crossedlegs I3 and I4 is arranged in supporting engagement with the side rail28 of the intermediate section with the links 31 and 38 pivotallyengaging the inner ends of the side rails I6 of the end sections and theother pair of crossed legs I3 and I4 is arranged in supportingengagement with the side rail 29 of said intermediate section with thelink members 31 and 38 pivotally engaging the side rails I1 of the endsections.

The crossed legs I3 and I4 of each pair are pivotally connected togetheron a pivot pin 42 which extends through said legs substantially mediallyof the length thereof and through a bracket 43 riveted or otherwiseaixed to the leg I4 thereof. A cross bar 44 is affixed at its oppositeends to the brackets 43 to dispose the same substantially in alignmentwith the pivot pins 42 to thereby rmly connect the pairs of crossed legstogether for conjoint movement thereof from expanded to collapsedrelation.

The side rails I6 and I1 of the end sections I and II are maintained inspaced apart relation at their inner ends by means of cross bars 46 and41 which are affixed at their ends to the lower ends of short angle bars48 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the side rails of thesections on the pivot pins 39 and 40 respectively.

In order to effect collapsing of the crossed legs from the set upposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to the collapsed position shownin Fig. 4 thereof with the intermediate section disposed in loweredrelation, a link member 50 is pivotally connected at one end to each ofthe legs 23 of each of said end sections IIJ and II on a pivot pin Iwith the opposite end of each link member being pivotally connected toan angulated link member 52 by a pivot pin 53. The pivot pins 5I engagethrough the leg members adjacent their upper ends and the pivot pins 53also extend through the projecting lower ends 54 of the short angle bars48. The upper ends of the angulated link members 52 of the end sectionI0 are pivotally connected to the link members 31 on pivot pins 55 whilethe angulated link members 52 of the end section II are pivotallyconnected to the link members 33 on pivot pins 56. By this arrangement,the upper ends of the crossed legs I3 and I4 will be spread fartherapart with the movement' of the end sections into upwardly projectingrelation. This will dispose the pivot pins and 36 adjacent the outerends of the slots 33 and 34 and the legs 23 will be moved to nestedrelation within the link members and in parallel relation with the siderails I5 and I1 as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The cross bars46 and 41 together with the short angle bars 48 will also be swung intoclose relation with the end sections. This nesting of the link membersand the short angle bars into close relation with the end sectionspermits of the complete collapsing of the crossed legs I3 and I4 intoclose relation and the lowering of the intermediate section I2 intoadjacent relation with the supporting surface to thereby reduce theover-all height of the collapsed bed frame for convenience in storageand shipment.

It is desirable to have the foldable bed frame rmly supported on asupporting suface at its ends and beneath the intermediate section whenin bed forming relation. This is accomplished by means of the roundedlower ends 25 of the legs 23 of the end sections and in order to firmlysupport the intermediate section, a longitudinally extending angle bar51 is provided for each pair of crossed legs. The said angle bars areslightly longer than the intermediate section and each includes ahorizontal flange 58 adapted to flatly engage upon the supportingsurface and a vertical flange 59 provided with longitudinally extendingslots 63 and 6I located adjacent the opposite ends thereof through whichslidably engage pins 62 and 63 having enlarged heads at their outer endswith the inner ends of the pins anchored in the lower ends of thecrossed legs I3 and I4 respectively. Since the flanges 58 flatly engageupon the supporting surface, they provide a firm support for the crossedlegs and the pins 62 and E3 being freely slidable in the slots thereinfacilitate the collapsing of the crossed legs with the movement of thesections from horizontal aligned relation to collapsed relation. Thecrossed legs are tensioned against collapsing thereof by coil springs 65which are attached at their lower ends to the brackets 43 and at theirupper ends to the legs I3 respectively.

Secured to the crossed legs I3 and I4 of each pair of crossed legs areangle brackets `IzI which are disposed with the flanges 61 thereofextending inwardly from the said legs and arranged in slight angularrelation with the longitudinal side edges thereof. Mounted on the anglebrackets 6G are caster rollers 69 which are disposed with the Shanks 10thereof swivelly arranged in openings 1| in the flanges 61 to therebyswivelly mount the caster rollers on the crossed legs I3 and I4 with theaxes of the Shanks 10 located substantially at right angles withreference to the length of the crossed legs. The rollable members 13 ofthe caster rollers 69 project inwardly of the crossed legs so that whenthe crossed legs are fully collapsed the rollable members 13 willproject below the angle bars 51 into rolling engagement with thesupporting surface whereby the foldable bed frame may be readily movedthereover when the same is in collapsed condition as illustrated in Fig.4 of the drawings.

A wire mesh spring 15 is connected with and stretched between the siderails I6 and I1 of the end sections and the end rails I8 thereof and isconnected with and stretched between the side rails 28 and 29 of theintermediate section for supporting a mattress thereon and which springtogether with the mattress is adapted to be folded with the movement ofthe end sections to upwardly extending relation.

The cross bars 46 and 41 are disposed suffi,- ciently below the spring15 to provide a clearance therebetween so that the spring does notcontact with the said cross bars with the,Y weight of the mattress orperson disposed thereon. One of the end sections, such as the section IUis provided with a Ll-shaped bail 'I1 which is pivoted to the verticalflanges 2li of the side rails l5 and l1 thereof on pivot pins 'I8 forswinging movement thereof to selectively engage, the outer ends of thepivots 5I in the notches 19 for supportingA the endv section I0 ininclined relation as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings with the remainingsections of the foldable bed frame disposed in bed forming relation.This permits the use of the foldable frame for supporting a person inpartially inclined relation thereon.

What is claimed is:

l. In a foldable bed frame, end frame sections having 1eg memberspivoted to the opposite sides thereof, an intermediate frame sectionpivoted to the end sections, pivotally connected crossed legs supportingsaid intermediate section at each side thereof and connected therewithfor movement of the intermediate section from bed forming relation to acollapsed relation with the intermediate section arranged at a lowerlevel,

links connected to the crossed legs and to the end sections respectivelyfor collapsing the crossed legs to lowered relation for lowering theintermediate frame section with the swinging of the end sections toupwardly extending relation, longitudinally extending members adapted 1Xto engage a supporting surface at each side of the intermediate framesection, said members having longitudinally extending guide slots, andmeans at the lower ends of said crossed legs slidably engaging saidguide slots to connect the crossed legs with said members for movementof the lower ends of the crossed legs longitudinally of the slots withthe collapsing of the crossed legs to said lowered relation.

2. In a foldable bed frame, end frame sections having leg memberspivoted to the opposite sides thereof, an intermediate frame sectionpivoted to the end sections, pivotally connected crossed legs supportingsaid intermediate section at each side thereof and connected therewithfor movement of the intermediate section from bed forming relation to acollapsed relation with the intermediate section arranged at a lowerlevel, links connected to the crossed legs and to the end sectionsrespectively for collapsing the crossed legs to lowered relation forlowering the intermediate frame section with the swinging of the endsections to upwardly extending relation, longitudinally extendingsupporting members at each side oi the intermediate frame section, saidmembers having longitudinally extending guide slots, means at the lowerends of said crossed legs slidably engaging said slots for movement ofthe lower ends of said crossed legs longitudinally of the slots with thecollapsing of the crossed legs to said lowered relation, and rollablemembers swivelly connected to said crossed legs in angular relationtherewith to dispose said rollable members in inwardly projectingrelation above said supporting members when the crossed legs are inexpanded relation and to engage the supporting surface when the crossedlegs are in collapsed relation.

3. In a foldable bed frame, end frame sections having leg memberspivoted to the opposite sides thereof, an intermediate frame sectionpivoted to the end sections, pivotally connected crossed legs supportingsaid intermediate section at each side thereof and connected therewithfor movement of the intermediate section from bed formlil ing relationto a' collapsed relationV with the intermediate section arranged at alower level, links connected to the crossed legs and to the end sectionsrespectively for collapsing the crossed legs to lowered relation forlowering'the intermediate frame section with the swinging of the endsections to upwardly extending relation, links pivotallyconnected totheleg members of the end sections, and links pivotally connected to theiirst mentioned links at one side of said end sections respectively andto said last mentioned links below said end sections respectively forcollapsing the leg members of the end sections and the links connectedthereto into parallel relation with the end sections with the swingingof the end sections to upwardly extending relation.

4. In a fcldable bed frame, end frame sections having leg memberspivoted to the opposite sides thereof, an intermediate frame sectionpivoted to the end sections, pivotally connected crossed legs supportingsaid intermediate section at each side thereof and connected therewithfor movement of the intermediate section from bed forming relation to acollapsed relation with the intermediate section arrangedv at a lowerlevel, links connected to the crossed legs and to the end sectionsrespectively for collapsing the crossed legs to lowered relation forlowering the intermediate frame section with the swinging of the endsections to upwardly extending relation, links pivotally connected tothe leg members of the end sections, links pivotally connected to theiirst mentioned links respectively and to said last mentioned links forcollapsing the leg members of the end sections and the links connectedthereto with the swinging of the end sections to upwardly extendingrelation, longitudinally extending members adapted to engage asupporting surface at each side of the intermediate frame section, saidmembers having longitudinally extending guide slots, and means at thelower ends of said crossed legs slidably engaging said guide slots toconnect the crossed legs with said members for movement of the lowerends of the crossed legs longitudinally of the slots with the collapsingof the crossed legs to said lowered relation.

5. In a foldable bed frame, end frame sections having leg memberspivoted to the opposite sides thereof, an intermediate frame sectionpivoted to the end sections, pivotally connected crossed legs supportingsaid intermediate section at each side thereof and connected therewithfor movement of the intermediate section from bed forming relation to acollapsed relation with the intermediate section arranged at la lowerlevel, links connected to the crossed legs and to the end sectionsrespectively for collapsing the crossed legs to lowered relation forlowering the intermediate frame section with the swinging of the endsections to upwardly extending relation, links pivotally connected tothe leg members of the end sections, links pivotally connested to theiirst mentioned links respectively and to said last mentioned links forcollapsing the leg members of the end sections and the links connectedthereto with the swinging of the end sections to upwardly extendingrelation, longitudinally extending members adapted to engage Iasupporting surface at each side of the intermediate frame section, saidmembers having longitudinally extending guide slots, means at the lowerends of said crossed legs slidably engaging said guide slots to connectthe crossed legs with said members for movement of the lower ends of thecrossed legs longitudinally of the slots with the collapsing of thecrossed legs to said lowered relation, and rollable members swivellyconnected to said crossed legs in angular relation therewith to disposesaid rollable members in inwardly projecting relation above saidsupporting members when the crossed legs are in expanded relation and toengage the supporting surface when the crossed legs are in collapsedrelation.

6. In a foldable bed frame, end sections each including opposite siderails and a leg member pivoted to each of the side rails, anintermediate section including opposite side rails pivotally connectedat their opposite ends to the inner ends of the side rails of the endsections, de-

pending frame members extending between and pivotally connected at theirupper ends to the side rails of the end sections respectively formaintaining said side rails in spaced apart relation Iat their innerends, pivotally connected crossed legs supporting said intermediatesection at each side thereof and connected therewith for movement of theintermediate section from bed forming relation to a collapsed relationwith the intermediate section arranged at 'a lower level, pairs ofcrossed links pivotally connected to the crossed legs and to the endsections respectively for collapsing the crossed legs to loweredrelation for lowering the intermediate frame section with the swingingof the end sections to upwardly extending relation, links pivotallyconnected to the leg members of the end sections and to the lower endsof said depending frame members, and links pivotally connectedrespectively to said rst mentioned links and to said depending framemembers and said last mentioned links for collapsing the leg members ofthe end sections and the links connected therewith into parallelrelation with the end sections with the swinging of the end sectionsinto upwardly extending relation.

JAMES PILIERO.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 941,878 Jeffcott Nov. 30, 1909 1,401,796 Konrad Dec. 27, 19212,397,017 Krakauer Mar. 19, 1946 2,572,642 Margiloi Oct. 23, 1951

